Quick release mechanism for oxygen mask



May 8, 1962 K. WEISWURM 3,032,847

QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR OXYGEN MASK Filed Feb. 6, 1961 HVVENTOR WU WURM ATTORNEY United States The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to anew'and improved quick release mechanism such as for removably securing a metal terminal tongue of an oxygen mask retaining strap to an aviators helmet and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a laterally displaceable device that is used as an example for securing a strap end to a helmet or the like and that is released bydepressinga push button to thrust the strap metal terminal tongue away from a detent seating in an aperture in the tongue at the end of the strap.

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the push button operated device mounted for lateral displacement in a fragment of the helmet with a strap metal terminal tongue secured by the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken axially normal to the view in FIG. 3.

The release mechanism that is illustrated in the accompanying drawing is shown mounted adjacent the edge of the side portion of the plastic shell 1 of an aviators helmet.

The push button release mechanism projects above or upwardly from the shell 1 as a hollow cylindrical metal housing 2 that continues downwardly in a pair of mounting ears 3 and 3' that are apertured for screws 4 and 4'. The screws 4 and 4' secure the mechanism to the shell 1 by threading into studs that project upwardly through the shell 1 from a metal plate 5 that is positioned on the inner side of the helmet with a metal clamping plate 6 between the plate 5 and the helmet shell 1.

A cylindrical metal post is rigidly secured to the plate 5 by being welded thereto or the like, intermediate the ends of the post, such that the post 10 is rigid with respect to the shell 1. The post 10 extends upwardly from the plate 5 axially and centrally of the cylindrical housing 2 and extends downwardly from the plate 5 to terminate at its lower end in a bevelled face 11 that is maintained against rotation by the plate 5 to which the post 10 is welded.

The movable part of the release mechanism comprises a helmet strap tongue receiving housing that consists of the plates 7, 8 and 9. The plates 7, 8 and 9 are secured together as a strap end tongue receiving housing 25 by suitable means such as by the screws 12, 12' or the like that thread upwardly into the plate 7 such that the housing is moved as a unit. The upper surface of the plate 7 releasably contacts the side of the plate 5 that is remote from the plate 6 and the shell 1. The plates 7, 8 and 9 are apertured axially of the assembly for the reception of the lower end of the post 10 and laterally for the reception of the helmet strap tongue therewithin. A hollow tapered guide 8, that is a continuation of the plate 8 and that is provided with a plate atent ice 2 retaining terminal flange 8" registering against amating flange of-the plate 9, anchors the assembly together and serves as a Scabbard for the reception andhousingof the strap end tongue 35 therewithin.

A push button 15 yieldingly'closes the upper end of the cylindrical housing'25 against the yielding resistance of a coil spring-16. The coil spring 16 is maintained under compression between the lower surface of the button 15 and the upper surfaceof the shell 1. A pair of spaced connecting members 17 and 17' secure the button 15 and the plate 7 together by means of the screws 18 and 18 at the button end and the screws 20 and 20' at the plate 7 end of the assembly.

The depression of the button 15 separates the plate 7 from the plate 5, a distance that is determined by the engagement by the lower surface of the button 15 of the upper end of the post 10 and sufliciently to depress both the strap and the strap e'nd housing 25, as indicated in FIG. 3.

The insertion of the strap end tongue 35 into its hollow tapered guide 8' causes the tip of the tongue to engage the inclined tip 11 of the lower end of the post 10. The force of insertion of the tongue 35 applied to the post 10 initially wedges the strap tip receiving housing 25 away from the plate 5 by passing through' the connecting members 17 and 17' acting as ties to partially compress the spring 16, as indicated in FIG. 3. The further advance of the tongue 35 of the strap end into the tapered guide 8 causes the end of the tongue to pass beneath the lower end of the post 10 and permits the force of the spring 16 acting through the connecting members 1'7 and 17 to seat the lower end of the post into the tongue aperture 21 and return the housing 25 into its engagement with the plate 5, as indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawing. The strap tongue 35 is then firmly attached to the helmet shell 1.

The release of the strap tongue 35 from the helmet shell 1 is accomplished by causing the depression of the button 15 against the resilience of the spring 16 until the lower surface of the button engages the upper end of the post 10 and the strap end tongue 35 is moved downwardly by its housing 25 until the tongue aperture 21 is completely Withdrawn from containing the lower end of the post 10.

The helmet shell 1 preferably is slotted at 22 and is provided with a second pair of drilled holes 23 and 23 so that the assembly may be shifted to an upper position on the mask by taking out the screws 4 and 4' and reinserting them in the holes 23 and 23 to provide an improved angular positioning of the helmet strap.

The angular positioning of the helmet strap connection with the helmet takes into consideration differences in both the dimensions and the contours of heads on which the helmet is worn. Oxygen masks used by aircraft pilots in the making of flights into the upper atmospheric levels must be fitted properly and the helmet must not interfere with the proper fitting of the oxygen mask. Different lengths of straps on oxygen masks provide for mask adjustments involving the mouth and nose of the wearer but frequently are inadequate for adjustments involving the side of the head; such, for example, as between the mouth and the ear. The slot 22 and the second pair of holes 23 and 23' adapts the present invention for adjustments at the side of the head, where such adjustments are needed.

Jet aircraft fly at velocities that make pilot ejection from therein quite hazardous since necks can be broken and helmets can be torn from the head of the pilot when he first leaves his plane.

The release mechanism that is disclosed herein is ruggedly attached to the pilot's helmet with the pin 10 firmly welded or otherwise secured to the plate 5 and through the plate'6 to the helmet shell 1, so that the helmet and the pin are firmly and securely attached together as an inclosed and non-moving assembly.

The'attached end of the strap end tongue 35 encircles the rugged lower end of the pin 10 with the tongue metal defining the aperture 21 resting against a face 11 of the pin 10. The pin face 11 preferably is inclined about 15 with the axis of the pin 10, such that under tension the tongue 35 slides upwardly away from the end of the pin 10 toward a shoulder above the face 11' that acts as a positive stop. This assembly further assures the positive engagement of the tongue 35 on the pin 10 without permitting binding of the tongue against its housing 25.

The pin 10 preferably has ample clearance around it so that, even though a stress may bend it somewhat no binding would result that would obstruct the removal of the strap end tongue 35 from around the pin 19 on the depression of the push button 15.

Binding between these parts from being exposed to sand storms also is avoided by the provision of ample clearance to avoid any wedging of sand between the parts and by the sealing engagement between the housing and the plate 5 under the urging of the spring 16.

The above described provisions are of particular importance to the life of a valuable pilot when the pilot needs to remove his mask to avoid suffocation or the like by simply pressing the button 15 from an exhausted or damaged oxygen supply after ejection.

It is to be understood that the device which is illustrated and described herein is submitted as a successfully operative embodiment of the present invention and that limited modifications may be made in the parts thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A quick release mechanism for releasably securing a tongue within a housing therefor and releasing the tongue by the operation of a push button comprising a hollow housing, a push button in an end of the housing, a first plate secured to the housing, a post secured to the plate and extending substantially axially of the housing and with an upper end spaced from and engagea ble by the button and with a lower end that terminates in a bevelled face, a tongue housing, a pair of connecting members that connect the tongue housing with the push button, and spring means yieldingly seating the tongue housing against the first plate.

2. The mechanism defined by the above claim 1 wherein the post is Welded intermediate its ends to the first plate.

3. The mechanism defined by the above claim 1 wherein the tongue housing comprises a plurality of plates secured together and movable by operation of the push button independently of the remainder of the assembly.

4. The mechanism defined by the above claim 3 wherein the tongue housing comprises as an intermediate plate a hollow tapered guide that serves as a scabbard for the reception and housing of the strap end tongue Within the tongue housing, and wherein a plate retaining terminal flange of the tapered guide intermediate plate registers against a mating flange of an adjacent plate in positively anchoring the tapered guide within the tongue housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,995,792 Morton Aug. 15, 1961 

